The Frock Swap (Press Release)

With the credit crunch ever present, what better way to get a whole new wardrobe without spending a penny?
Fashionista, Katie Taylor, is pairing up with the Orange Rooms bar and club in Southampton to hold a fashion party with a twist in December, otherwise known as the ‘Frock Swap’ or ‘Swishing Party’.

Fashion-conscious women are welcomed to a new world of shopping, without having to spend anything!

All you have to do is bring an item of unwanted clothing, jewellery or a pair of shoes along to the event to begin shopping. Once set up on clothes rails, women can browse through the selection of second-hand, chic, hand-me-downs, and choose anything they like to take away!
It’s a great way to meet other fashion-savvy women, crack open a few bottles of wine, snack on nibbles, and have a giggle with other garment-givers. There are also free desserts and 2-4-1 cocktails available courtesy of the Orange Rooms.

There may be squabbles, but there should be plenty of quality garments to satisfy any shopping indulger, and a definite presence of Southampton style. Any unwanted garments will be given to charity.

The event has a great similarity to fashion icon, Twiggy’s Frock Exchange, featured on BBC2.
The programme is presented by Twiggy, who is also assisted by Lauren Laverne, Paula Reed and the Designer Paula Kirkwood. There are also tips on how to alter and update clothing and accessories by customisation, which is a massive hit in fashion for the past few seasons; with television programmes such as Channel 4’s Frock Me hi-lighting the benefits of customising clothes, giving you an individual, quirky look.
‘’Each guest brings at least one item of clothing, pair of shoes or accessory to swap. The clothes are displayed for everyone to choose from and try on. You and your friends go home with a great new look. It’s that easy.’’

Journalist Siobhan Courtney also attended a swishing party, and overhears, ‘’Everyone’s swapping now, darling – it’s so fashionable’’.
There is also a great ethical advantage to these ‘swishing parties’, as it’s a perfect way of recycling.

A textile recycling charity known as Traid, says 900,000 tonnes of shoes and clothing is thrown out every year in the UK alone. That’s 7.5 billion items of clothing! With swishing parties and frock-swaps on the rise, this number could soon be reduced, and help to keep the planet green.
So wise up ladies, and become involved in the new fashion rage of clothes mixing and matching, swishing and frock-swapping! The pocket friendly way of achieving that new wardrobe look and feel, for literally nothing!

For advice and help on hosting your own Swishing party, visit www.bbc.co.uk, and start informing your favourite fashionable friends to attend, especially if they are owners of a few designer pieces!

The event in Southampton is scheduled to be in December, from 10am-4pm in the Orange Rooms, Vernon Walk. A date is yet to be confirmed.

(Sources BBC News, Quest twenty eight)